RedHawks to battle with nation’s best

Formidable nonleague schedule has Miami facing two of last three national champions.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 11:54 PM Wednesday, August 4, 2010

OXFORD — First it was Duke. Then Ohio State. Everyone already knew the 2010-11 Miami University men’s basketball schedule would be a whopper.

But when the RedHawks released their full nonconference schedule Wednesday, Aug. 4, for the coming season, it also included the Kansas Jayhawks.

Duke (the 2010 NCAA champion), Ohio State (2007 NCAA runner-up) and Kansas (2008 NCAA champion) are three opponents that bring to mind one word: Wow.

“It’s the most challenging schedule I’ve ever been a part of,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said.

That’s one way of putting it.

When you add the usual regional foes, like 2010 NIT champion Dayton, Xavier and Cincinnati, another way of putting it would be to call this one of the more challenging schedules any mid-major team has ever put together.

The RedHawks also announced, however, that they would play a total of 16 home games, easily a program record.

“That’s a good thing for us,” Coles said. “If you go back 30 or 40 years ago, there was one season we had 13 home games, which was the most we’d ever had. Usually midmajors don’t have that many home games.

“It should give the guys a psychological edge,” he added, “and give our fans a chance to watch our players develop.”

Miami’s strength of schedule will be without doubt one of the nation’s best, which will give the team an opportunity, Coles pointed out.

“Our challenge is to come up with a decent record with this schedule,” he said. “If we do well, we’ll have a high RPI; it’s as simple as that.”

Ratings Percentage Index is considered a key component in the selection of NCAA tournament at-large teams.

Miami opens the season at home Nov. 12 against Towson before hitting the road to take on the Duke Blue Devils on Nov. 16.

The RedHawks then host a three-day, six-game, sub-regional Nov. 20-22 as part of the 2010 O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic. Teams projected to play in Oxford for the CBE Classic sub-regional are San Diego State, Wisconsin-Green Bay and IUPUI. Matchups for the sub-regional will be announced at a later date.

Then Miami plays at Ohio State (Nov. 26), at home against Xavier (Dec. 1), at Dayton (Dec. 4), at home against Saginaw Valley State (Dec. 7) and Troy (Dec. 11) and at Wright State Dec. 18.

Miami is at home against Cincinnati on Dec. 21, the first time the Bearcats will have played in Oxford since 1992.

The RedHawks travel to Belmont on Dec. 30 before heading to Kansas on Jan. 2.

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